Ariz. sheriff defiant over appointment of monitor

PHOENIX (AP) — An Arizona sheriff’s office found to have racially profiled Latinos is opposing the appointment of an independent monitor to help remedy the issue.

The move disclosed in a court filing Friday could result in a judge ordering the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office to comply with constitutional requirements.

In May, U.S. District Judge Murray Snow found that Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s office singled out Latinos, and that deputies unreasonably prolonged detentions, marking the first finding by a court that the agency engages in racial profiling.

Arpaio’s office is appealing.

Snow delayed issuing orders in the case in June after both parties indicated they wanted time to work toward an agreement.

The joint filing on Friday indicated the judge would have to provide more guidance during an Aug. 30 status conference given the lack of agreement on a proposed consent decree.